THE SCHOOL SCOOP

The School Scoop is our monthly digital newsletter that keeps parents and students up to date on everything happening here at Taylor. You will find information on upcoming dates of events/activities, clubs/organizations, athletics and important announcements. You will also get a glimpse inside the classrooms in our building with tons of pictures and videos. Happy reading!

Taylor Middle School Eighth grader, Mikaela Kerby, was the Lea County Spelling Bee Champion on January 9th at Tydings Auditorium in Hobbs! We are so proud of Mikaela, her achievements, and how well she represented TMS and Wildcat Nation! Congratulations, Mikaela!

TMS seventh grader, Jillian Lockwood, was named the American Highland Cattle Association 2025 Full-blood Market Steer National Champion with her steer named Ferginand in Denver, Colorado this past week. Jillian also earned the honor of 2025 Reserve Junior Yearling Heifer Champion, showing her heifer, Reba. Congratulations, Jillian!

The top 15 LiveSchool point earners from each class are awarded Platinum Club status! Students are able to earn LiveSchool points through our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system every day by wearing their ID's, being prepared for class, staying on task, and exhibiting many other positive behaviors. The points can be saved to spend at our store at the end of each 9-weeks grading period.

Students in Mrs. Jameson's seventh grade science class are shown here conducting an experiment to discover if different amounts of energy storage molecules provided will influence how much energy yeast can release.

In Ms. Huerta's class, students began the new year by renewing their social contract. These agreements are crucial in fostering a safe and supportive classroom environment, promoting positive interactions, and enhancing the learning experience. After renewing their social contract, students engaged in a fun and educational game called Integer Jack. Using a deck of cards, each student received two cards—red cards representing negative numbers and black cards representing positive numbers. Students multiplied their numbers, and the player with the largest product won the round. This interactive activity helps students build fluency in multiplying integers while making learning enjoyable.

Pillado’s students engaged in partner reading The Diary of Anne Frank, using TAG and RACE strategies to identify themes. As they finished the story, they discussed the Holocaust and WWII. While many students enjoyed the book, others found it deeply emotional and depressing.

Band students participated in the SENMMEA Honor B and Clinic in Hobbs January 24 and January 25. Next up, on February 1, select students will be on the road for the SENMMEA Solo and Ensemble!

Please see the calendar below for a complete list of events for TMS Band students:

Many parents ask, “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?”

This is not always an easy question to answer! We hope that these tips can help!

A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.

Our school guidance states that you should not send your child to school if he/she has:

• Fever in the past 24 hours ***If your child has a fever, please DO NOT medicate your child and send them to school***
• Active vomiting (more than twice in a day) in the past 24 hours
• Diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Chills
• Cough-A child with deep or uncontrollable coughing belongs at home even without a fever.
• Strep Throat (must have been taking an antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school)
• Bad cold, with a very runny nose or bad cough, especially if it has kept the child awake at night
• Head lice – until your child has been treated according to the nurse or doctor’s instructions

If your child becomes ill at school and the teacher or school nurse feel the child is too sick to benefit from school or is contagious to other children, you will be called to come and take him/her home from school. It is essential that your child’s school has a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to transport your child home from school and that childcare is available in case of illness. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the year, please notify your child’s school immediately.

If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.

Thank you!

We have something for everyone! TMS has many opportunities for students to get involved. It is so important for students to find their place on campus and find friendships with their peers who are interested in similar things. Information on signups and meetings are announced each day on the morning and afternoon announcements. Here are the clubs and organizations students can join:

The Taylor Middle School Cheer team, affectionally known as the Taylor Army, is in the middle of their cheerleading competition season. At their first competition in Roswell, they secured a 1st place trophy in Gameday and a 2nd place trophy in Cheer with Music, in the largest division of the competition! They are headed to Artesia on February 22nd and Hobbs on March 1st , with their eyes set on the Grand Champion Trophy! Coach Catherine Amundsen stated, "These athletes work so incredibly hard stunting, tumbling, and creating two perfectly executed routines. Their practice is paying off! The Taylor Army is back again, stronger, wiser, fighters, champions within! All Salute Taylor!"

"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success."

~ Napoleon Hill

Reminders:

Friday, February 14 - Early Release at 1:45 pm.

Monday, February 17 - No School in observance of President's Day Holiday.

Taylor Middle School is currently following a 6-period day for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Here are the bell schedules:

Reminder for parents that may need to pick up their student(s) early: In order to ensure that we are able to get your student from class, to their locker, and to the office before the bell rings, the cutoff deadline for early student pick-up will be 2:45 pm on regular school days and 1:30 pm on Wednesdays.

The Lovington Municipal Schools instructional calendar shows school holidays, parent/teacher conferences and early release days throughout the school year. It can be found on the home webpage or by selecting the image to the left.